Bible: Jer 19:3-13

19:3Say, ‘Listento whatthe Lordsays, you kingsof Judahand citizensof Jerusalem!1 The LordGodof Israelwho rules over all2says, “Iwill bringa disasteronthisplace3thatwill make the earsof everyonewho hearsabout it ring!419:4I will do so becausethese people5 have rejectedme and have defiled6thisplace. They have offeredsacrifices in it to othergodswhichneither theynor their ancestors7nor the kingsof Judahknew anything about. They have filledit with thebloodof innocentchildren.819:5They have builtplaceshere9 for worshipof the god Baalso that they could sacrificetheir childrenas burnt offeringsto him in the fire. Such sacrifices10 are something I nevercommandedthem to make! They are something I nevertoldthem to do! Indeed, such a thing nevereven enteredmy mind!19:6SoI, the Lord, say:11 “The timewill soon comethat people will nolongercallthisplaceTophethor the HinnomValley. Butthey will call this valley12 the Valleyof Slaughter!19:7In thisplaceI will thwart13the plansof the people of Judahand Jerusalem. I will deliver them over to the power of their enemieswho are seekingto kill them. They will die by the sword14at the handsof their enemies.15 I will maketheir dead bodiesfoodfor the birdsand wild beaststo eat.19:8I will makethiscityan object of horror, a thing to be hissedat. Allwho pass byit will be filled with horrorand will hiss out their scorn16becauseof allthe disastersthat have happened to it.1719:9I will reducethe people of this city to desperatestraitsduring the siegeimposed on it by their enemieswho are seekingto killthem. I will make them so desperate that they will eatthe fleshof their own sonsand daughtersand the fleshof oneanother.”’”18

19:10The Lord continued,19 “Now breakthe jarin frontof those whohave comehere withyou.19:11TellthemtheLordwho rules over allsays,20 ‘I will do justas Jeremiah has done.21I will smashthisnationand thiscityasthough it werea potter’svesselwhichis brokenbeyond repair.22The dead willbe buriedhere in Tophethuntil there is nomore roomto burythem.’2319:12I, the Lord, say:24 ‘That is how I will deal with thiscityand its citizens. I will makeit like Topheth.19:13The housesin Jerusalemand the housesof the kingsof Judahwill be defiledby dead bodies25 just like this place, Topheth. For they offered sacrificeto the stars26and poured outdrink offeringsto othergodsonthe roofsof thosehouses.’”